The city of Warrenton is delaying plans to construct an indoor recreation center. Last Thursday, the city's recreational task force and aldermen met for the first time since the November election and agreed tough economic conditions present too much of a challenge to proceed with the costly project. "We think it's a great project, but the timing with the economy is not there," said Ward 2 Alderman Fred Flake. The indoor recreation center was estimated to cost the city $10.5 million if it included an aquatic center. Without the pool area, the facility was projected to cost $7.5 million. The city has been looking at building an indoor facility approximately 35,000-45,000 square feet on a tract of land located on Market Street behind the Warrenton 8 Cinema complex. The facility would have included a gymnasium, walking track, fitness equipment and multipurpose rooms. The city sought voter approval to construct the facility in its entirety, but when a proposal to increase the city's sales tax was voted down in November, officials had to decide whether to postpone the project or construct it without the popular acquatic feature. The ballot measure was defeated by 124 votes (1,587 to 1,463). The city was asking citizens to increase the city's sales tax to 8.475 cents for every $1 spent from $7.975. The city had hinted previously it might place the sales tax measure on an upcoming election ballot. However, Mayor Greg Costello said City Attorney Chris Graville advised the board the sales tax measure could not be placed on the ballot for one year. "It's easy to sit here and complain and be unhappy, but really you have to understand (citizens) saw an economy they didn't like," Costello said. "We respect that. I don't have a problem putting it on in the future, but hopefully we will see an improvement in the economy in that time." The city initially believed it had $7.5 million in funds to pay for the facility if it was built without an aquatic center. However, Joy Howard of WM Financial Strategies told city officials last week due to declining sales tax revenue, the additional funds needed could not be projected. In addition, interest rates are now higher than initially forecasted. Aldermen said previously they wanted to include the aquatic center during the initial construction process after residents responded to a survey saying it would be their main reason for using the facility. The aquatic center is the most expensive part of the facility to build and costs the most to operate, Costello noted. Officials are worried attendance at the recreation facility might not be as high as needed if a pool was not included, a concern not ignored by task force member Tony Gagliano. "If you start building now and people don't start going to it, you never will bring it back," Gagliano said. "It's like that old saying, you only get one chance to make an impression."